13 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
Escorted tour
Pakistan’s Karakoram Highway: Hunza, Nanga Parbat & Skardu – 14 Days
The Karakoram Highway, the Hunza Valley, Nanga Parbat base camp, the Deosai Plateau and Skardu, with all meals included.
14 days
From £2,712
Tour overview
This 14-day journey follows the legendary Karakoram Highway into the mountains of northern Pakistan, where three of the world's great ranges, the Himalaya, Karakoram and Hindu Kush, meet among glaciers, ancient forts and welcoming valley communities. Groups have a minimum age of 16, with a tour leader, drivers and local guides throughout. You stay thirteen nights: eleven in comfortable hotels and two in a simple guesthouse in the Astore Valley with shared bathrooms. All meals are included, with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, and a home-cooked dinner with a Hunza family.
Your journey begins in Islamabad with a tour of the Faisal Mosque, the Pakistan Monument and the Heritage Museum, followed by the busy Raja Bazaar in old Rawalpindi. You drive into the Kaghan Valley to Naran, then cross the Babusar Pass at 4,173m to join the Karakoram Highway, often called the highest highway in the world, reaching Gilgit for a walk through its bazaar and across its historic suspension bridge.
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In Karimabad you explore the 700-year-old Baltit Fort and Altit Fort, visit a women's carpentry workshop and watch the sunset over the Hunza Valley, said to have inspired the legend of Shangri-La, before dinner with a local family. A full day takes in the Hoper Glacier, Attabad Lake, the precarious Hussaini Suspension Bridge and a walk to the Passu Glacier viewpoint. Leaving the highway, you explore the remote Yasin Valley by 4WD and on foot to the snout of a glacier.
From the Astore Valley you walk through meadows to Herrligkoffer Base Camp beneath Nanga Parbat, the world's ninth-highest mountain. Crossing the Deosai Plateau, one of the highest alpine plains on Earth and home to Himalayan brown bears, you reach Skardu to visit the UNESCO-listed wooden Amburiq Mosque, Shigar Fort, the high-altitude Katpana Desert and Kharpocho Fort. A flight returns you to Islamabad, where you see truck artists at work and explore the ancient city of Taxila before a farewell dinner.
The physical rating is medium, with walks at altitude and long drives on mountain roads. This trip suits adventurous travellers who want to discover one of the world's most spectacular mountain regions.
Trip highlights
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The Karakoram Highway and Babusar Pass (Day 3)
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Baltit Fort and dinner with a Hunza family (Day 4)
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Passu Glacier and the Hussaini Bridge (Day 5)
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Nanga Parbat base camp (Day 9)
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The Deosai Plateau (Day 10)
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Shigar Fort and the Katpana Desert (Day 11)
Your route
14 stops from Islamabad to Taxila
- Islamabad Days 1 & 12–14
- Naran Day 2
- Babusar Pass Day 3
- Gilgit Day 3
- Karimabad Days 4–5
- Hoper Glacier Day 5
- Gupis Days 6–7
- Darkot Day 7
- Tarashing Days 8–9
- Nanga Parbat Base Camp Day 9
- Deosai Plateau Day 10
- Skardu Days 10–11
- Shigar Fort Day 11
- Taxila Day 13
Why choose this tour
Northern Pakistan's greatest mountain scenery in two weeks. All meals, a domestic flight and a tour leader included.
Best suited to
- Adventurous travellers
- Mountain and photography lovers
- Travellers who want somewhere new
- Solo travellers looking for a group
Day-by-day itinerary
14 days from Islamabad, Pakistan to Islamabad, Pakistan
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Day 1 · Faisal Mosque, Rawalpindi Islamabad
A tour of the twin cities.
- Hotel
- Hotel Hillview or similar
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
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Day 2 · Kaghan Valley, Naran Naran
Into the mountains.
- Hotel
- Royal Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 3 · Babusar Pass, Gilgit Gilgit
Onto the Karakoram Highway.
- Hotel
- Gilgit Serena Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Baltit Fort, Altit Fort Karimabad
Hunza forts and a family dinner.
- Hotel
- Roomy Daastaan or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Attabad Lake, Passu Glacier Hunza Valley
Glaciers, lakes and a famous bridge.
- Hotel
- Roomy Daastaan or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 6 · Kargah Buddha, Gupis Gupis
West to a riverside town.
- Hotel
- Ghizer Blossom Inn or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Darkot, Ghamubar Glacier Yasin Valley
A remote valley by 4WD and on foot.
- Hotel
- Ghizer Blossom Inn or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Tarashing Astore Valley
Where three ranges meet.
- Hotel
- Tarashing Guest House or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
-
Day 9 · Rupal Valley, Herrligkoffer Base Camp Nanga Parbat
A walk to base camp.
- Hotel
- Tarashing Guest House or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · Deosai Plateau, Sheosar Lake Skardu
Across a high plateau.
- Hotel
- Concordia Motel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Shigar Fort, Katpana Desert, Kharpocho Fort Skardu
Forts, a mosque and a cold desert.
- Hotel
- Concordia Motel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 12 · Skardu, Rawalpindi Islamabad
Fly back and see truck art.
- Hotel
- Hotel Hillview or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 13 · Taxila Taxila
An ancient city and a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel Hillview or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 14 · Islamabad Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Islamabad (1 night) Hotel Hillview or similar
- Naran (1 night) Royal Hotel or similar
- Gilgit (1 night) Gilgit Serena Hotel or similar
- Karimabad (2 nights) Roomy Daastaan or similar
- Gupis (2 nights) Ghizer Blossom Inn or similar
- Tarashing (2 nights) Tarashing Guest House or similar
- Skardu (2 nights) Concordia Motel or similar
- Islamabad (2 nights) Hotel Hillview or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 11 nights in hotels and 2 in a guesthouse
- Meals 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners
- Bus and 4WD transport and a flight from Skardu to Islamabad
- Islamabad and Rawalpindi tour
- Hunza Valley glaciers and forts
- Yasin Valley and Nanga Parbat base camp walks
- Deosai Plateau, Skardu forts and Taxila
- Tour leader, drivers and local guides
Not included
- International flights
- Pakistan visa
- Drinks and personal spending
- Tips and travel insurance
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You dislike long drives on mountain roads
- You want luxury
- You dislike basic guesthouse bathrooms
- You want international flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–14 · Lunch: Days 1–13 · Dinner: Days 1–13
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Pakistan
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £2,712 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.
27 Jun 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
11 Jul 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
01 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
15 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
29 Aug 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
12 Sep 2027
Twin share
£3,225pp
Single from £3,880
26 Sep 2027
Twin share
£2,712pp
Single from £3,440
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
How high does the trip go?
You drive over passes above 4,000m and walk at up to about 3,550m.
Are all meals included?
Yes, breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. Drinks are extra.
What if the Skardu flight is cancelled?
You travel back to Islamabad by road over two days, via Naran.
Do I need a visa?
Yes, UK citizens can apply for a Pakistan e-visa. Check the FCDO advice for the regions visited before booking.
What is the guesthouse like?
Simple twin rooms in Tarashing with shared bathrooms and bucket showers. Bedding is provided.
Who leads the trip?
A tour leader travels with you, with drivers and local guides.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary